Author: Rhys Gregory

Gwent man has been jailed after fabricating a string of elaborate household fires following a joint investigation between the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) and South Wales Police. William James, 64 of Blackwood, Gwent, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after an appearance at Newport Crown Court on 13 November 2020. Mr James previously pleaded guilty to these offences following a court hearing on 2 October 2020. Investigators were first made aware of Mr James’ fraudulent activities following a tip off to the IFB, where it transpired a series of near-identical claims all following alleged household fires had been made…

A new collaboration is set to give student entrepreneurs a valuable networking boost as they launch their business ideas. Swansea University’s School of Management and 4theRegion, the organisation which brings together regional businesses, community groups and change-makers across South West Wales, have teamed up to create Starting Up in the Region. Thanks to a partnership between the 4theRegion and the University’s Enterprise Team, the student start-ups will have their membership fees paid for an entire year. This means they will be able to attend events and members’ forums as well as benefiting from the opportunity to network with the group’s…

Many consumers have also rediscovered a love of local this year with one recent survey showing that six in ten of us turned to local stores and services to support us through the first COVID-19 lockdown (Deloitte). As local food and drink producers kept us fed during the first half of the year, experts are calling on people across Wales to return that support and buy Welsh this Christmas. And even with the prospect of COVID-19 restrictions still in place, 13% of adults in the UK are already looking forward to this year’s celebrations more than previous years (YouGov) and…

Home Bargains has invested approximately £4 million in its new store in Barry, which will be officially opened at 8.00 am on Saturday 21 November 2020. As one of the UK’s largest family-run retailers, Home Bargains is creating 62 new jobs in the local community with its store on Palmerston Road. In total, the store will employ 75 team members, including some staff and management who will be transferring from local stores. It will also be donating £2,000 to Tŷ Hafan, which is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities and offers care to children and support for…

Work is set to get underway on the UK’s largest ever energy retrofit project of its kind, that will see almost 650 homes in a Swansea community benefiting from the installation of state-of-the art renewable energy generation, energy storage and smart energy management technology. The homes, in the Penderry Ward of the city, are owned and managed by Pobl, Wales’ largest provider of affordable housing, who have partnered with renewable energy tech and service supplier, Sero. It is anticipated that the innovative scheme, supported by £3.5m EU funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government, will…

Social care workers in the independent sector in Wales are to be given greater support to protect their well-being during the pandemic. The emotional support, including one-to-one counselling with the same counsellor, aims to provide easy access to well-being support for care workers who have been affected by their experiences working in the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic social care workers have continued to provide vital care and support for people who have been among the most vulnerable. Many have been exposed to higher levels of stress, longer working hours and higher than usual number of deaths of the people they…

First Minister Mark Drakeford is asking budding young artists to enter this year’s Christmas card competition. The winning design will be chosen by the First Minister and used as his official Christmas card. The First Minister sends his Christmas card to thousands of people around the world, including to the Queen and to the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. While rainbows may not be traditionally associated with Christmas, the children, who must be aged seven to 11 to enter the competition, are being asked to pay tribute to the efforts of critical workers during…

The future of two important heritage buildings in Cardiff Bay will be safeguarded for future generations as Cardiff Council’s plans to secure ownership have been given the go-ahead. The Merchant Place/Cory’s Buildings occupy a prominent position in Cardiff Bay directly opposite the Wales Millennium Centre, but both have been empty and boarded up for over a decade. Cardiff Council plans to buy the Grade 2 listed buildings and will seek grant support to support the costs of refurbishment and regeneration. Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, Cllr Russell Goodway, said: “We’ve seen both of these important buildings lying empty for far too…

The final agreed scheme for Wellfield Road which includes a new one-way-system, a pop-up cycleway; improved facilities for pedestrians, as well as short stay parking, has been given the go-ahead with 74% of local residents surveyed supporting the new plans. Work will start on site on Sunday November 22ndand will take four weeks to complete. The impact on local traders will be minimal – with the road remaining open and pedestrian access being maintained on either side of the road throughout the works. The new scheme will make Wellfield Road a one-way-system northbound from Albany Road travelling up towards Pen-y-Lan…

Plans for a new bridge to provide a direct link from Llanrumney to the A48 at the Pentwyn junction have taken a step forward following private-sector bids to deliver the scheme. A report on the proposals – which form part of the East Cardiff Industrial Strategy – has been approved by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet yesterday, Thursday, November 19, where it will was agreed to sell land to help fund the development. The proposal will see a new bridge and road link built over the River Rhymney linking Llanrumney to the Park & Ride site and the A48. This will improve access…